Video: 3,000 Miles Across the West On Horseback

A lot of people don't realize it, but the American West still has herds of wild horses that inhabit portions of the country. It's estimated that roughly 37,000 of the animals still roam the West today, and these strong, sturdy creatures are uniquely adapted to their environment. That makes them a particularly good choice for a new equestrian expedition that is set to get underway March 15th. That's when a group of four riders will set out on a 3,000-mile-long odyssey that will form the basis of a new documenary entitled Unbranded.

In a few short weeks, riders Ben Masters, Thomas Glover, Ben Thamer and Jonny Fitzsimons will embark on their adventure, starting at the Mexican border and heading north. Their route will take them more than six months to complete, crossing through Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana before finishing at the Canadian border. Along the way, they'll pass through such amazing locations at the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Glacier National Park.

The men plan to ride the trail with 17 horses, each of which was previously a wild mustang. Their journey wouldn't be possible without these amazing animals and the film they shoot will be a testament to the partnership between rider and horse. Through this film, they hope to both recapture the spirit of adventure in the Old West and share with viewers the story of these wild mustangs, many of which are available for adoption to those looking to add a high-quality horse to their stable, ranch or farm.

The team's route—along portions of the Arizona Trail, Great Western Trail and the Continental Divide Trail—will pass through backcountry deserts, canyons, mountains and plains that should make for a stunning, dramatic backdrop to their adventure.

Sometime ago, the men started a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the journey and the film. With three days left in their campaign, they've exceeded their budget and plans are moving ahead as expected. In fact, they've already begun filming the early parts of the film, capturing footage of the riders working with their horses before they set out. The video below is from that Kickstarter campaign and will give you an idea of what to expect from this film when it's finally released.

The expedition is expected to finish up around September 20th of this year.